High pressure pump head



June 16, 1931. J, A, W|NTR0ATH 1,810,333

HIGH PRESSURE Pull? HEAD Filed sept. v, 192s mwww we@ A TTOJQA/EK Patented June 16, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN A. WINTROATH, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 EDWARD D. SMITH. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND ONE-HALF T0 WINTROATH PUMPS, LTD., 0F ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F CALIFORNIA HIGH PRESSURE PUMP HEAD Application led September '7, 1928. Serial No. 133,878.

This invention relates to that type of turbine pump in which the pump shaft, which extends from the pump unit located near the lower end of a well to the pump head at U the surface of the ground, is enclosed b a tube. The pump shaft has runners attac ed to the lower end thereof, which runners are situated in the pump unit, and rotates them when actuated by the pump head in order to pump liquid to the surface of the ground. When the pump is in operation and there is a hydraullc pressure, the liquid being discharged will leak into the tube which surrounds the pump shaft, completely filling it. In other words, the liquid will low into the tube until the internal and external pressures are equal. This liquid in the tube will contact the revolving shaft and the power required to drive the pump shaft is more than it would be if the liquid were not present in the tube.

It is an object of this invention to provide a. turbine pump in which liquid being pumped is prevented from entering the tube which encloses the pump shaft. My invention effects a material saving of power, this being especially true if the well is deep.

It is another object of my invention to provide a turbine pump in which the tube surrounding the pump shaft is filled with a gas which is of a pressure suicient to 00u11- teibalance the liquid pressure outside the tu e.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a turbine pump having a high pressure feed oiling system which will prevent a leakage of gas from the upper end of the tube which surrounds the pump shaft.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings in which I illustrate one form of my invention,

Fig. l is a vertical view of a turbine pump in which the invention is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 11 denotes a pump unit which is situated near the lower end of a well inside a well casing 12. The pump unit 11 has an upper section 13 which is threadedly secured at 14 to the upper end of a column pipe 15. Secured to the upper section 13 is a plurality of pump bowls 16 having runner chambers 17 in which runners 18 are situated. A pump shaft 20 extends through the pump unit 11, being rotatably supported by different bearings thereof and the runners 18 are rigidly secured thereto by keys 21. The column pipe 15 extends upwardly from the pump unit 11 through the well casing 12 to the surface of the ground where it is connected to a sub-base 23 which supports a pum head body 24. The pump shaft 20 exten s upwardly through the column pi le 15 and throu h the pump head body 24. he upper end o? the pump shaft 20 is connected to a spindle 25 which is rotatably supported by a thrust bearing 26. The thrust bearin 26 is supported in a bearing chamber 27 w ich is positioned above the body 24. A motor 29 is supported by a frame 30 above the upper end of the pump shaft 20, and a shaft 32 of the motor has a flanged member 33 situated above a Bange 28 of the spindle 25 which is connected to the flanged member 33 in order to provide a flexible cou ling 35. These parts are connected together according to standard practice.

The upper section 1.3 has a hub 37 which provides a bearing 38 for the pump shaft 20. Connected to the upper end of the hub 37 is a main bearing 39. Threadedly secured at 41 to the upper part of the main bearing 39 which may be considered a part of the pump unit 11 is a tube 42 which surrounds the pump shaft 20. This tube 42 extends from the pump unit 11 to the pump head. The upper end of the tube is threadedly secured at 43 to the lower end of a packer shell 44 which surrounds a portion of the pump shaft 20 extending through the body 24. This packer shell 44 has a flange 45 which projects from the upper end thereof which engages an upper face of the body 24 by means of which it is supported. l

.A gas pressure pipe 47 is connected at 48 to the lower end of the shell 44 in communication with the upper end of a space 49 which is formed around the pump shaft 20 within the tube 42. The gas pressure ipe 47 is also connected to a gas storage tan 5l having a gauge 52 by means which the pressure of the gas therein may be ascertained. A com ires sor 53 is adapted to supply compresse gas to the storage tank 5l through a pipe 54 having a Valve 55.

When the pump is in operation and liquid is pumped to the surface ot' the ground, the hydraulic head is quite high, being in direct proportion to the distance that the liquid must be lifted. The liquid being pumped tends to leak into the space 49 through a space 56 at the lower end of the hub 37 of the upper section 13 and through the bearing 38 thereof, and the liquid also tends to leak through an opening 58 formed in the hub 37 directly below the main bearing 39. As the pump continues to operate, the liquid in the ordinary pump will completely fill the space 49 inside the tube 42. This provides a great deal of friction and consumes an appreciable amount of power. If the pump is very long and used in a deep well, the friction will be very great and there will be a considerable power loss.

In my invention when the pump is set into operation the compressor 53 is also set into operation (or the compressor may be prevlously set into' operation) and gas is forced into the interior 49 of the tube 42, this gas passing from the storage tank 5l through the gas pressure pipe 47 into the upper end of the tube 42. The gas is under sufficient pressure to prevent liquid from leaking into the tube 42. In other words, the pressure of the gas in the space 49 is sufficient to balance with the hydraulic pressure of the liquid being pumped. This gas pressure may be slightly greater, in which case it will flow at a slow rate of speed from the space 56 and the opening 58 of the upper section 13 of the pump unit ll, which gas will flow upwardly in the form of bubbles to the surface of the ground. This gas escaping from the lower end of the tube 42 will assist in raising the liquid to the surface of the ground and therefore a certain amount of power consumed by the compressor will be recovered. It is very easy to compute the amount of pressure necessary to prevent the liquid being pumped from entering the tube 42. After this pressure has been ascertained. the compressor 53 may be operated at such a speed that the gauge 52 of the storage tank 5l will indicate the proper pressure.

The packer shell 44 provides au annular opening 60 which surrounds the pump shaft 2O and in which metallic packer rings 6l are placed. Placed between the packer rings 61 are upper and lower lantern rings 62 and a central lantern ring 63. The lantern rings 62 and 63 and metallic packings 6l are firmly held in lace by a gland 64.

For t e purpose of supplying the packer with lubrication and preventing or reducing the gas leakage around the shaft at this point to a minimum I provide a high pressure oil pump represented b the numeral 66. This pump consists of a s ell having a large cylinder 67 and a small cylinder 68. A large piston 69 is placed in the large cylinder 67 and a small piston 70 is placed in the small cylinder 68, these pistons 69 and 70 beingr rigidly attached together by a piston rod 7l. A pipe 72 is connected to the storage tank 5l and to a body 74 of the pump 66 in communication with a space in the larger cylinder 67 below the large piston 69. A valve 75 is provided for controlling a flow of gas into the space in the large cylinder 67 below the large piston 69. A pipe 77 having a control valve 78 is connected to an end plate 79 of the high pres sure oil pump 66 in communication with a space in the small cylinder 68 above the small piston 70. This pipe 77 is connected at 86 and 81 to the packer shell 44 so as to bein communication with the upper and lower lantern rings 62. A lug 82 closes an opening in the end plate 79 y means of which oil may be placed in the space in the small cylinder 69 above the small piston 70 when this small piston 7 0 is in lower position. When there is a gas pressure in the storage tank 5l and the valve 75 is opened there will be a pressure against the large piston 69 in an upward direction and the` oil in the space above the small piston 70 will be subjected to a higher pressure. The oil is forced under a high pressure through the pipe 77 and into the spaces provided by the lantern rings 62. This oil under pressure will provide a very tight oil seal which will entirely prevent a leakage of gas through the packer around the pum shaft 20. The pressure of the oil will be slightly greater than the pressure of the gas by reason of the difference in diameters of the large and small pistons 69 andI 70.-

When it is desired to refill the small cylinder 68 with oil, the valve 78 in the pipe line 77 is closed and the valve 7 5 which controls the supply of gas to the large cylinder 67 through the pipe 72 is also closed. The body 7 4 is provided with a drain cock 85 which is at this time opened so that gas in the cylinder 67 may be exhausted. The pipe plug 82 is removed and oil is packed into the space in the small cylinder 68 above the small piston 70. The large and small pistons will drop to lower position when the gas pressure is relieved therefrom so that the cylinder 68 may receive the oil. After this refilling has taken place the plug 82 is replaced. The cock 85 is closed and the valves 75 and 78 are opened.

It is probable that there will be a slight le akage of oil around the pump shaft 20. I bypass any of this leaked oil by means of a pipe 87 which is connected at 88 to the packer shell 44 in communication with the central lantern ring 63. This pipe 87 is connected to an inlet pipe 90 which connects to the inlet of the compressor 53, so that an leakage oil at the central lantern ring will pumped into the tube 42 instead of being wasted.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that in the pump of my invention no liquid will be contained in the space 49 provided around the pump shaft 20 by the tube 42 aside from a small leakage of oil which is used to lubricate the bearings. The compressed gas entirely prevents an entrance of well liquid. The amount of gas which leaks from the space 49 will bequite small, there being but an extremely small leakage, if any, through the packer 44 and a small leakage from the lower end of the tube 42. For this reason it will not be necessary to provide a very large compressor 53; therefore, the cost of operating the compressor will be comparatively small. The saving of power required to rotate the pump shaft 2O is quite an advantage over the ordinary turbine pumps, especially in deep well installations Where the hydraulic pressure is considerable and Where the liquid is pumped a great distance. The high pressure oiling system is important to the invention since it reduces the leakage around the packer in the pump head to a minimum and permits a small compressor 53 to be utilized. A film of oil is always maintained between the packer rings 6l and the shaft, thus insuring long life to these packer rings, and forming an effective seal preventing escape of the compressed gas in the tube. The high pressure oil pump is of simple construction and may be very readily filled with oil.

I claim as my invention:

l. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be inserted in a Well; a pump head situated near the top of said Well; a pump shaft extending from said pump unit to said pump head, by means of which said pump unit is operated; a gas-filled tube enclosing said pump shaft; and means for maintaining in said tube a gas pressure which is higher than the pumped liquid.

2. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted tobe installed in a well; a pump head situated near the top of said Well; a pump shaft extended from said pump unit to said pump head, by means of which said pump unit is operated; a tube enclosing said pump shaft; and means for forcing into said tube a gas under suicient pressure to exclude therefrom the liquid being pumped.

3. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a Well; a pump head situated near the top of said well; a pump shaft extended from said pump unit to said pump head, b means of which said pump unit is operate a tube enclosing said pump shaft; and a compressor for forcing into said tube a gas under sufficient pressure to exclude liquid being pumped.

4. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a well; a pump head situated near the top of said well; a pump shaft extended from said pump unit to said pump head, by means of which said pump unit is operated; a tube enclosing said pump shaft; means for forcing into said tube a gas under suliicient pressure to exclude liquid being pumped; a packer for said pump shaft, said packer being situated at the upper end of said tube; and means for placing a pressure on said packer which is higher than the pressure of said gas in order to prevent a leakage of gas around said pump shaft.

5.. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a Well; a pump head situated near the top of said well; a pump shaft extended from said pump unit to said pump head, by means of which said pump unit is operated, a tube enclosing said pump shaft; pressure means for forcing into sald tube a gas under sufficient pressure to exclude liquid being pumped; a packer for said pump shaft. said packer being situated at the upper end of said tube; and means controlled by said pressure means for supplying fluid under pressure to said packer in order to prevent a leakage of gas around said pump shaft.

6. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a Well; a pump head situated near the top of said well; a pump shaft extended from said pump unit to said pump head, by means of which said pump unit is operated; a tube enclosing said pump shaft; a compressor for forcing into said tube a gas under suiiicient pressure to exclude liquid being pumped; a packer for said pump shaft, said packer being situated at the upper end of said tube; and means for supplying oil under pressure to said packer .o

in order to prevent a leakage of gas around said pump shaft, said means being an oil pump operated by the gas compressed by said compressor.

7. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a well; a pump head situated near the top of said well; a pump shaft extended from said pump unit to said pump head, by means of which said pump unit is operated; a tube enclosing said pump shaft; and means for forcing into the upper end of said tube a gas under a pressure greater than the hydraulic pressure in said pump unit, said gas escaping from said pump unit and rising to the top of said Well with said liquid being pumped.

8. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a well; a pump head situated near the top of said Well; a pump shaft extended from said pump unit to said said pump head, by means of which said pump unit is operated; a tube enclosing said pump shaft; a compressor for forcing into said tube a gas under sufficient ressnre to exclude liquid being pumped; a s ell surA lll Ill

rounding said shaft; a plurality of packing rings between said shell and said shaft; lanterns separating said packing rings; and means for supplying alternate lanterns with oil under a higher pressure than the pressure lo which the intermediate lantern is subjected.

9. A turbine pump co'mprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a well; a pump head situated near the top of said well; a pump shaft extended from said pump unit to said pump head, bv means of which said pump unit is operated; a tube enclosing said pump shaft; a compressor for forcing into said tube a gas under sufficient pressure to exclude liquid being pumped; a shell surrounding said shaft; a plurality of packing rings between said shell and said shaft; lanterns sepa rating said packing rings; and means for supplying Yalternate lanterns with oil under a higher pressure than the pressure to which the intermediate lantern is subjeeted, said means being an oil pump operated by the gas compressed by said conipresser.

10. A combination as defined in claim 8 in which said intermediate lantern communicates with the intake of said compressor and said alternate lanterns are supplied with an oil under a pressure which is higher than the pressure of said gas in said tube.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 23 day of August, 1926.

JOHN A. WINTROATH.

rounding said shaft; a plurality of packing rings between said shell and said shaft; lanterns separating said packing rings; and means for supplying alternate lanterns with oil under a higher pressure than the pressure to which the intermediate lantern is subjected.

9. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a well; a pump head situated near the top of said well; a pum i shaft extended from said pulnp unit to sald pump head, by means of which said pump unit is operated; a tube enclosing said pump shaft; a compressor for forcing;r into `said tube :1 gas under sufficient pressure to exclude liquid being pumped; a shell surroundingr said shaft; a plurality of packing rings between said shell and said shaft; lanterns separating said packing rings; and means for supplying alternate lanterns with oil under a higher pressure than the pressure to which the intermediate lantern is subjected, said means being an oil pump operated by the gas compressed by said compresser.

l0. A combination as defined in claim 8 in which said intermediate lantern communicates with the intake of said compressor and said alternate lanterns are supplied with an oil under a pressure Which is higher than the pressure of said in said tube.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this :23 day of August, 1926.

JOHN A. WIN TROATH.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,810, 333.

Granted June 16, 1931, to

JOHN A. WINTROATH.

It is hereby certified that the name and residence of the first named assignee in the above numbered patent was erroneously described and specified as "Edward D. Smith, of Chicago, Illinois", whereas said name and residence should have been described and specified as Edward M. Smith, of Los Angeles, California, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of August, A. D. i931.

(Seal) Wm. A. Kinnan, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,810,333. Granted June 16, 1931, to

JOHN A. WINTROATH.

It is hereby certified that the name and residence of the first named assignee in the above numbered patent was erroneously described and specified as "Edward D. Smith, of Chicago, illinois", whereas said name and residence should have been described and specified as Edward M. Smith, of Los Angeles, California, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of August, A. D. 1931.

Wm. A. Kinnan, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

